Journalism, What Have You Done?

16/12/2012 11:11 GMT
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Updated
13/02/2013 10:12 GMT

Everywhere in the press these days it's Leveson this and journalists that! The journalistic profession used to be one which many young people (like myself) would dream of getting into. We would tread on each others toes to be the best and to have our names over every newspaper and every news channel. But not any more. If you listen closely you can hear the dreams of many aspiring journalists shatter into a million pieces as they realise: it's not all what it was cracked up to be.

Generally if you're taking a degree or some form of qualification within Journalism studies then you are interested in getting into this profession. You have the hope that one day you will travel the world and report on the news that really matters. But are you? Are you really? Or are you just going to end up like most of the journalistic profession and report on Beyonce's new dress or Brad Pitt's new hair do? Oh my god! Guess what? This celebrity was caught snogging some one else in central park! ... Woop-di-doo!

It's not just the many journalism mediums' lack of news values that really gets me annoyed, it is also the lack of professional standards. All you have to do is look up the Leveson inquiry to know that. The media is being sued by a LOT of celebrities because of the lack of professionalism when gathering their stories. No wonder the A-listers don't want anything to do with us fellow journalists. Hugh Grant told in his witness statement how is flat had been broken into, and a detailed description just so happened to occur in the paper soon after. Now I don't know about you, but there's a massive difference between gathering your news effectively and professionally, and breaking into someone's home. If this is what my profession will entail in the future then I may as well leave now.

Obviously I'm not saying that we should enforce a major crackdown on the press in the form of regulation, but I do think something needs to be done and fast, especially if we are ever going to gain the public and the celebrities faith back. I understand that if you regulate the press then you are toying with free speech and a free press. But seriously guys! All I'm asking is that you think a little and don't play with ethics.

I do still want to become a journalist, and a successful one at that, but rest assured that my name will not appear in the next Leveson inquiry equivalent. It will not appear in a court case against me and it certainly won't be used in the same sentence as phone hacking. Let's just hope the damage to the press and the public's morale towards it isn't permanent. Let's cross our fingers in the hope that the future of the media is a decent one.